“Do me a favor, please, Johnny,” she begged.

“Certainly,” he returned.  “Do you know what it is?”

“Here’s my fountain-pen.  Indorse that check over to me, won’t you?”

“What’s the joke?” he asked.

“I don’t want you to have the money.  I’m in a hurry now.”

“Well, I’m broke again,” laughed Johnny in perfect confidence; and he indorsed the check.

“The most thoroughgoing plebe I ever saw,” Gresham commented, looking after Gamble.  “It’s so fortunate that one is only compelled to meet him in public places.”

Constance glanced at him curiously and hurried to the rear rail of the box.  She barely mentioned Mr. Gamble’s name, and it was surprising how easily he heard her and how quickly he came back.

“I forgot to ask you to call,” she said.  “If you can spare any time from your pursuit of that million dollars we should be glad to see you at the house—­Aunt Pattie and I.”

“Will you be busy to-morrow evening?” he briskly inquired.

“There’s no one expected but Mr. Gresham,” she informed him with a smile at his precipitancy.

“I’ll be there,” he stated with businesslike decisiveness.  “I’ll bring along from five to twenty thousand dollars’ worth of time and use up as much of it as you’ll let me.”

“I’ll have a meter,” she laughed.

CHAPTER V

IN WHICH JOHNNY DISPLAYS TALENT AS A TRUE PROMOTER

“I don’t know much about bookkeeping, but I guess this will do,” observed Johnny, passing over his first attempt for inspection.

Loring examined the little book with keen enjoyment.  Johnny had opened an account with himself and had made five entries.  On the debit side appeared the following items: 

April 22.  To three working hours, $15,000

April 23.  Sunday.

April 24.  To desk rent, ...$38

April 24.  To seven working hours, $35,000

On the credit side was this: 

April 22.  By skinning Paul Gresham--good work, ..... $15,000

“How is it?” asked Gamble anxiously.

“Good work!” pronounced Loring with a chuckle.  “They may not teach this sort of bookkeeping in commercial colleges.  Their kind is stiff and dry.  This has personality.  Why am I two dollars shy on desk rent, though?  I thought you were to take forty days to make your million dollars?”

“That’s right,” admitted Johnny; “seven hours on week-days and three on Saturdays—­two hundred hours at five thousand an hour.  I started on Saturday, however.  To-day is Monday.  This morning is when I begin to use your desk-room.  Here’s your dollar a day until four P.M., May thirty-first.”  And he handed Loring thirty-eight dollars.

“You’re not really going to try that absurd stunt?” protested Loring incredulously.

“I have to.  Miss Joy will think I’m a four-flusher if I don’t.”